Something a little more sophisticated this time - Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk. Yes I know they're German but there's no such things as Trans Nederland Express. If you feel there is kein vursprung dur technik in this track click here.
Rising early I made it to Utrecht in time for the 8:50 to Nijmegen. Originating from Den Helder in the extreme North of Holland it carried mainly commuters from Amsterdam which given the relative sizes of the two cities it is surprising that people travel to work in Utrecht rather than work locally. The Netherlands Spoorwegen carry 1 million passengers each day in a country with a population of around 16 million. Compare that with London and the South East where 400, 000 commuters are carried each day. The system has been considerably upgraded over the years but this has created distortions. Sleepily little towns have now become booming commuter dormitories and as salaries have not kept pace with the passengers they carry this has led to staff shortages and one or two one day strikes. Oh and by the way in my two days going round I never came across a single slam door train.
Arnhem and another bloody church. I promise there's not so many in this one.
John Frostbrug honoured after the British commander who led Operation Market Garden in 1945.
A rather striking piece of modern sculpture to brighten up a dull day.
Nijmegen in 16 k.m but we are other side of Arnhem so although it's about one hour by my single speed huurfiets I calculated that by the time I made it back to the station and caught the train it wouldn't make much difference.
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The new covered Gelderdome on the outskirts of Arnhem completed in time for Euro 2000 and home of Vitesse Arnhem. I must admit I did enjoy the location of the old ground in a rather salubrious neighbourhood with well manicured gardens and a safe place to leave your bike. Times change however and now they can hold stadium concerts in the winter. In an interesting juxtaposition (God I love that word - it actually means contrast by the way.) by the promoter Janet Jackson is followed by Guns 'n Roses. I have to say I think Axel, Slash and the gang are going to find it tough to follow the act of Miss Janet so perhaps it's a good idea not to get a front row seat if you feel like going.
Churches, Bridges and Town Halls. I'm sure you're getting sick of this by now but we've made it to the river Waal in time for lunch. As every schoolboy knows the river is part of the extensive Rhine delta and flows out to the North Sea via the Holandshe Diep.
Looking downstream from the bridge with the town of Nijmegen on the left.
The view back towards the bridge with a Rhine barge heading towards Germany. The modern vessel in the foreground is a casino. I suppose if you don't pay your debts the croupier can just throw you in the drink. I guess its a tax ploy as when it is sailing the management can claim they are in international waters.
Looking back towards the church in Nijmegen showing the main shopping street.
On to Eindhoven changing at 's Hertogenbosh en route. We begin with a free commercial for the inventor of the Philishave, the Compact Disk, the Cassette, energy saving light bulbs, digital recording using standard tapes and many more ideas that no doubt never left the labs.
The new corner section at PSV Eindhoven. In case you wondered what the PSV stood for it's Phillips Vereninging (Club). It's really a one horse town but I overheard one of the girls say that she really liked engineers and not the usual Nigel the Excel man that they seem to go for these days. If only it was like this when I was younger.
I saw this and was completely gobsmaked. A shrine to the world's game shared by a toyshop !! Normally something appropriate comes into my head at these junctures. Terrace humour honed by years getting soaked in badly designed away ends and putting up with home and big city club referees. This time my comic talents deserted me and I thought I'd have to buy some land in Northern France like Sting did when he was taken down with writer's block. Fortunately rode my bike for a few minutes and came out with a few choice quips. See which one you prefer.
Imagine the first team making models from Playdough during long away trips.
If Wimbledon ever got to Europe and played here you could just imagine the Crazy Gang getting hold of cap guns to intimidate the home team in the tunnel.
Is there was a PSV layout (train set) I wonder? As no doubt they've made a machine to clean boots the apprentices must have been set to work creating papier mache tunnels and privet hedges made out of sponges soaked in green paint. They do this by the way to keep them out of the pub, the snooker hall and the betting shop after training. I could just imagine the chairman dressed as the Fat Controller in the signal box orchestrating train movements.
A note to PSV Eindhoven B.V.:
These jokes are based on old fashioned English football stereotypes so if your club is a modern well oiled machine please don't be offended. (I'll be in Brazil if your lawyers need to get hold of me).
More British Influence in The Netherlands. This time an upmarket fashion outlet named after a Scottish Second Division football club. Does anyone know where they are from by the way. I just remember it from the pools coupon. I also recall a team called North Dadandong by the way which I believe is somewhere in the Outback.
Looking towards Belgium from Maastricht Randwyk station (just 600 m from where the historic treaty was signed).
I believe this is the building itself now relegated to SAP user group meetings. Which do you choose the hard or soft option - I decided to opt out and head for the main town.
Time to make your own jokes. Consider that the Belgian border is 8k.m away and Brussels is an hour's drive in your response.
The Town Hall in the centre of Maastricht. We are further South and the temperature is a few degrees warmer and it seems that Summer is managing to hang on here.
Due to rush hour restrictions I had to leave the bike in Eindhoven but it was hired from Arnhem so I had to get off, wait half an hour change at s'Hertogenbosh. By the time I'd done that it's just around midnight. No need to get the credit card out as there's a late train back into the Randstad.
Just for the record I finally arrived back in the small hours. There's an all night service from Utrecht to Rotterdam via Amsterdam but no trains the other way so it's a long way round but beggars can't be choosers. My ticket was valid until 4:00 a.m so I could have stopped off for a quick drink but quite frankly this was the last thing on my mind.
The rain was lashing down at about 45 degrees and as I handed my ticket to the collector for the last time she said
Zomertoer ?
Ja, Ik ben naar Maastricht geweest en daar blijft het zomer.